What are those red circles on Michael Phelps' back?
Sunday night was a big one for Michael Phelps: He won his 19th Gold Medal at the Rio Olympics, helping Team USA coast to victory in the 4x100 meter race.
SEE MORE: Everything you need to know about the Summer Olympics
While viewers were astonished by Phelps' almost super human performance, others were also wondering what the hell those circular bruises on his back were.
there are crop circles on Michael phelps’ back??
— Neill Fowler (@fiveonfir3) August 8, 2016
The big, red circles are actually the result of cupping, which is an ancient therapy used to promote blood flow and healing. According to WebMd, cupping began in ancient Chinese, Egyptian and Middle Eastern cultures and was used to treat a wide range of ailments. Cupping involves placing a heated cup upside down on the skin, creating a vacuum, which in turn causes the blood vessels in the skin to expand.
RELATED: Michael Phelps' Olympic career
FUN FACT: Those circles are the end product of an ancient healing technique called cupping. #Rio2016pic.twitter.com/BsP1PPjqBQ
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2016
According to the Associated Press, Phelps, 31, has been practicing cupping for while, but some doctors are wary of its supposed benefits. "I would label cupping in the category of a placebo effect," one doctor told Fox News in 2012. "It's a waste of time, it's a waste of money," he concludes.
While the benefits of cupping are up for debate, what's not is Phelps' amazing skills in the water.
The 4x100 belongs to @USASwimming once again!@MichaelPhelps wins his first #Gold in Rio. https://t.co/BWGaUNiTHMhttps://t.co/Mv56TNWzar
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2016